Since his students began using Quizlet, English teacher Tristan Thorne has noticed an improvement in their ability to learn and use new words. Quizlet is a learning app, a computer programme you use on your mobile phone. It can help users build and test their knowledge of English words. Quizlet has word sets for millions of subjects. And, it is quickly becoming a useful mobile tool for language learners.

Thorne teaches at Columbia University in New York City. Thanks to learning apps, Jeff Strack, another English teacher, has also noticed improvement in his students’ ability to remember information. He teaches at Hostos Community College, also in New York. He and Thorne are part of a growing number of language educators adding mobile apps to their classes. Strack and Thorne seem to agree that the days when teachers would not permit the use of mobile phones are gone. When they use apps, language learners communicate more differently than in a traditional classroom. Users act on or respond to something, instead of just listening to new information.

Thorne believes that apps can help learners become more active in learning. For example, each week, his students are required to add vocabulary words into Quizlet for others to use. He says some apps also make it easy for students to know their language strengths and weaknesses.

The biggest improvement Strack has seen in his students is that they are much more active in whole-class or small-group discussions. “Apps let all students take part in the activity, whether it’s a game, quiz or practice activity,” he says.

Many existing learning apps are designed for students of all ages and levels. Some are designed for group activities. Some support independent learning. Still some are good for homework. Thorne says he especially likes Quizlet and three other apps: QR Codes, Socrative and Evernote.

English is now the first language of about 400 million people, the mother language of 12 countries and the official language of 34 more countries. That means one in every seven people in the world speaks English. English has become the new Latin (拉丁语) of the century. One must know English is a part of the 21st century. In Italy, for example, English is a must for many technical (技术的) jobs. In China, English is the most important foreign language learned at school. Now no other language on the earth is better suited (适合) to play the role of the world language. Because English is easier to learn than any other language, and it easily borrows local words and phrases from other countries to expand (扩大) its vocabulary.

English is so widely used that it has become the standard language for all kinds of international communications. Now 75% of the world’s mail is in English, 60% of the world’s telephone calls are made in English. 60% of the world’s radio stations are broadcast (广播) in English and over half of the world’s books and magazines are written in English. In a word, English is now the world’s first language.

The first way we learn to communicate is through body language — our facial expressions, our gestures and, when we’re older, our postures. Even after we figure out how to speak, this non-verbal communication still exerts (施加) a powerful and often unconscious influence over our interactions, people’s first impressions of us and even our impressions of ourselves. 【小题1】.

Change how you feel

To de-stress: Forcing a smile can make running easier and tough tasks less stressful. One 2012 experiment found that a grin makes holding your hand in ice water more bearable.

To feel more confident: 【小题2】. Striking this so-called power pose shortly before an interview or athletic contest can be particularly powerful for women, who tend to sit and stand in a way that takes up less space.

To persevere: 【小题3】. In a 2008 study, students who sat with their arms crossed kept working on an impossible problem nearly twice as long as those with their arms at their sides.

Change how others feel

【小题4】: Studies show that holding someone’s gaze may help people think you’re trustworthy and intelligent. According to body language expert Carol Kinsey Goman, it can also make people think you’re a good listener.

To foster connections: Mirroring the facial expressions and gestures of the person you’re talking to can help them feel more comfortable. One 2011 experiment found this is an effective sales skill.

To engage or disengage: If you want to let someone know you’re listening, sit facing them with your full body, knees and shoulders pointed at them. 【小题5】.